India, April 6 -- The Congress on Sunday dashed the NCP's hopes to secure an unopposed victory for deputy chief minister and party chief Sunetra Pawar in the Baramati assembly bypoll, announcing Akash More, a prominent Dhangar leader, as its candidate. The announcement was made late in the evening, after state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal turned down Pawar's plea for support citing a policy decision by the party.

"As Baramati has a significant number of Dhangar voters, the Congress wants to unite them by fielding More. That was why Harshwardhan Sapkal turned down Sunetra Pawar's request," a Congress leader said, requesting anonymity.

Pawar reached out to Sapkal a day after she urged Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's support...